Foundation trust plans at risk from recession

5th February 2009

The ongoing economic downturn is being blamed as a reason for causing further delays in trusts gaining foundation status.

FT regulator Monitor has published two documents which have referred to the impact of the downturn and Portsmouth Hospitals trust has blamed the economic climate after it withdrew its application. Monitor is expecting the government to accelerate the process but fears some trusts will not be adequately prepared to meet the required standards for FT status because of the “increasingly challenging” financial environment.